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Oak Mountain’s Trey Allen reaches out for a pass during the Eagles’ 21-0 loss to the Mountain Brook Spartans on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Heardmont Park. (Reporter Photo/Neal Wagner)

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – The Oak Mountain Eagles fell to 1-5 on the season on Oct. 4, as they were shut out 21-0 by the visiting Mountain Brook Spartans at Heardmont Park.

“You hate to come out and feel like you underachieved. I thought defensively, our kids competed, I thought they battled,” said Oak Mountain head coach Cris Bell. “They obviously didn’t play well enough to win tonight because we didn’t pitch a shutout.

“We’ve got to look at what we’re doing offensively and re-evaluate where we are and make sure we’re putting our kids in a position to be successful,” Bell added. “A tough night, but we’ll bounce back. I’m proud of the way they competed.”

The Spartans held the Eagles to 141 total yards, 98 of which were rushing. Luke Percer led the Eagles’ ground attack, recording 66 yards on 13 carries, and quarterback Evan Smith completed 7 of 15 passing attempts for 43 yards.

Jacob Fitzgerald led the Oak Mountain defense, recording nine solo tackles, five assists and two tackles for a loss.

After the Eagles (1-5, 0-4 in 7A Region 3) were forced to go three-and-out on the first possession of the game, the Oak Mountain defense stood tall on the first Mountain Brook (6-0, 4-0) possession, as Jalen Thomas sacked Spartan quarterback Strother Gibbs on fourth-and-4.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Oak Mountain recorded its first first down of the game a little more than two minutes into the second quarter, but a pick by Mountain Brook’s Alex Washington set up a Daniel Wilbanks rushing touchdown a few plays later to put the Spartans up 7-0 heading into halftime.

Mountain Brook converted a fourth-and-5 in its first drive of the second half en route to an 11-yard rushing touchdown by AJ Gates to extend the Spartans’ lead to 14-0.

The Eagles forced a punt on the following Mountain Brook possession, but a fumbled punt reception set the Spartans up at the Oak Mountain 2-yard line, leading to an easy rushing touchdown by Gates.

The Eagles’ final opportunity to score in the fourth quarter ended when Mountain Brook’s Baynes Autrey intercepted Oak Mountain quarterback Evan Smith at the Spartans’ 40-yard line with 4:23 left in the game.

Oak Mountain will travel to Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 12, while Mountain Brook will travel to Hewitt-Trussville.

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